Barbara J. Bentz

Current Research

My current research is focused on understanding temperature response and adaptations of bark beetles and associated communities for increased understanding of population outbreaks in a changing climate. This research includes the role of host trees and the environment in population outbreak dynamics, and incorporating physiological information into mechanistic models of bark beetle temperature response for managing forest ecosystems in a changing climate. I also research the role of bark beetles in post-fire environments.

Past Research

Why This Research is Important

Bark beetles have caused more tree mortality in western North America forest ecosystems over the past 20 years than wildfire. It is imperative to understand how rising temperature and decreasing precipitation will influence bark beetle-caused tree mortality in the future, including interactions with other disturbances.